Meghalaya
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Saturday said law and order in at least
five districts in the Garo Hills region was a "matter of concern".
Sangma, who was addressing the official gathering at the Polo grounds
after unfurling the national flag, said militant and criminal outfits
continued to engage in anti-national and criminal activities disrupting
economic activity and normal life in the region.
He also said that the state police is keeping a close watch on the
trans-border movement of "terrorists" from the neighbouring country and
have taken up the issue with the Centre.
Speaking about economic aid, the Chief Minister criticised the NDA
government's decision to withdraw the special category status for North
East states and said his government, along with other states of the
region, is aggressively taking up the matter demanding its restoration.
The special category status enabled the North East states to special
block grants such Special Central Assistance (SCA), Special Plan
Assistance (SPA) aimed at providing financial assistance to these low
income states.
On improvement of road and connectivity in the land-locked state, the
chief minister said the state government has launched many new
initiatives under the Plan umbrella such as upgradation of State
Highways (SHs) and Major District Roads (MDRs).
Exhorting the recent land swap deal with Bangladesh in which
Meghalaya stands to gain over 240 acres and lose about 41 acres of land,
Mukul said the deal should bring economic benefits to the people
residing in the border areas.
"What was once a boundary of discord (with neighbouring Bangladesh)
will now turn into an area of vibrant trade and commerce to build a bond
of friendship," he said while crediting the people of state for
peaceful Independence day celebrations.
Sangma also hailed the enthusiastic participation by the general
public in independence day celebrations and also thanked the state
machinery.
This year's celebrations were not preceded by media reports about
shutdown calls by outlawed outfits with the High Court barring the press
from publishing such announcements of disruptions. The proscribed
Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) had begun the trend of
calling bandh on this date since 1991.
Read
more at
http://www.thestatesman.com/news/northeast/meghalaya-cm-says-forces-keeping-tab-on-trans-border-movement/82743.html#bSV3G40sqS96hxVY.99